IRVINE, Calif., August 3. WHEN Peter Vanderkaay took the next to last heat in 7:58.30, it looked as if the final, “championship” heat of the men’s 800-meter freestyle might be relegated to footnote status.

And then along came Klete. Klete and his feet. Fleet Klete feet.

Yes, that Klete. Slow walkin’, slow talkin’, fast swimmin’ Klete.

Two hundred and 400-meter Klete who hasn’t really been training that hard this year (but still split a 1:46 in the 4×200 free relay in Montreal).

Klete K-E-L-L-E-R!

Klete went out slow. He was fifth in his heat at the 100 (eighth overall) in 58.27. At 200 meters he’d moved up to third (5th overall) in 1:58.96. Just before the 300 meter turn, he passed Tyler Deberry to advance a spot at 2:59.64. At the halfway mark, Klete split 3:59.84, trailing Justin Mortimer (3:58.29), Fran Crippen (3:58.71) and (from heat 7), Vanderkaay (3:59.54).

On the fifth 100, Keller simply exploded, bring his powerful six-beat kick into the race. Splitting 59.40, he quickly passed everyone except Mortimer who still held a 1.25 second advantage at the 500. But Keller was merciless, going 58.66 on his sixth hundred to break away from the pack, then following with 59.32 and 59.34 to touch in a lifetime best 7:56.66.

His 400s: 3:59.84 – 3:56.82.

Vanderkaay’s strong finish gave him second place while a fading Crippen touched third in 8:02.23.

Keller said he was glad to be competing “after I sat in the stands all day in Montreal, cheering for my teammates and perfecting my Canadian accent.”

Modestly, Keller said his 800 “was a good swim, but not a great swim. If Larsen (Jensen) had been here, he would’ve kicked my butt.”

Keller said he had an advantage “after seeing what Peter (Vanderkaay) did in the previous heat. Then I beat it. It would have been more fun if we’d been in the same heat,” he added, "because I like racing against the same guy I train with.

“This was a good swim,” he concluded. It makes my coach happy; it makes my grandmother, who came all the way from Big Bear, happy; and it makes my Girlfriend happy.”